| IUPAC Name | 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran-3-thiol |
| CAS Number | 57124-87-5 |
| Molecular Formula | C₅H₁₀OS |
| Molar Mass | 118.20 g/mol |
| Product Name | 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran-3-thiol |
| Synonyms | TETRAHYDRO-2-METHYLFURAN-3-THIOL; 2-methyltetrahydrofuran-3-thiol,mixedisomers; tetrahydro-2-methyl-3-furanthio; tetrahydro-2-methyl-3-Furanthiol; FEMA 3787; 2-METHYL-3-TETRAHYDROFURANTHIOL; 2-METHYLTETRAHYDROFURAN-3-THIOL; 3-MERCAPTO-2-METHYLTETRAHYDROFURAN |
| EINECS | 260-572-4 |
| Odor Type | meaty |
2-Methyltetrahydrofuran-3-thiol is widely used as a savory flavor ingredient in the food industry. It is approved under FEMA Number 3787 and has been evaluated by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) as flavor number 1090 .
Key applications include:
Meat flavors: Beef, chicken, pork, roasted meat, and grilled profiles
Savory snacks: Potato chips, extruded snacks, and seasoned nuts
Soups, broths, and bouillons
Sauces and gravies
Processed meats and meat analogs
Typical usage concentrations (as reported by Smolecule) :
| Application | Typical Concentration |
|---|---|
| Snack foods | 15 ppm |
| Meat products | 2 ppm |
| Soups | 1 ppm |
Due to its distinctive savory, sulfurous character, the compound is occasionally utilized in:
Savory fragrance compositions for household products
Industrial fragrance formulations requiring meaty or roasted notes
The compound serves as an intermediate in the synthesis of other sulfur-containing organic compounds and is used in research applications studying reaction mechanisms .
2-Methyltetrahydrofuran-3-thiol has been identified as a naturally occurring compound in heated pork meat and beef . It is formed as a product of the Maillard reaction (the browning reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars) during the cooking of meats, which explains its characteristic cooked meat aroma.
| Regulatory Body | Status |
|---|---|
| FEMA | 3787 – Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use in flavors |
| JECFA | 1090 – No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavoring agent (evaluated 2002) |
| FDA | Listed as a substance added to food (flavoring agent or adjuvant) |
| EU | Compliant with Regulations 1334/2008 and 178/2002 |
| Kosher/Halal | Available in grades meeting Kosher and Halal certification requirements |